We have noticed that today 3 of our little goldfish have bleeding on the bases of their pectoral fins. They are in a 110 Litre tank, we do water change 15 % every 2 weeks. In total we have about 22 little goldfish and 2 orandas and 5 comets who are a bit older than the 22 little ones, the little ones are meant to go this coming friday as a christmas present to our friends kids. But since 3 of them have problems with their pectoral fins, we are holding them back as a gift. Can you pls help us out with this matter. Our tank has been with us for 2 months the older adult goldfish has been in a 58 litre tank prior to moving them to this bigger tank. The 22 little goldfish has been in the big tank for 2 weeks now, they are just here as their temporary home prior to giving them away. We have our own test kit, we test it every water change, and the results are of normal range. I have attached a picture of one of the little one who is sick.

Hi Noreen, welcome to the forum we are glad to help but please got to this site and read it through:

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and please give information to all points.

But for now the following is wrong:

110 l tank is just big enough for MAXIMUM 3 goldfish ( bit pushing though )but NEVER for 29 fish even not temporary

Those poor fish of yours are suffering and poisoning themselves as they swim in their own sewerage.What are the exact results of your tests? do you test with paperstrips or liquid tests?Can you please post the numerical results.

The future owners of the fish, do they know how to care properly? Goldfish need a lot to be looked after. Not to be kept in a bowl.40 l per goldfish is minimum, plus very good filtration system which turns about 10 times the tank volume, plus an airstone to provide oxygen, plus live plants.

Waterchanges are a MUST every week, and about 50%. (15% every fortnight is nothing )Do you have a syphon to clean the gravel? It is also a must every week.

I also notice clamped fins and cloudy water. Your fishies are not happy at all.

Your water quality can't be that good with 22 fish in a 110 ltr tank. That is only about 29 gallons!!When I first read this post I swear I thought it was a joke.Take the injured, small fish out and treat them in a hospital tank/different tank. 1 tsp of aquarium salt per gallon of water.You can try melafix for 3-4 days and see if they get better, if not then you will have to treat with an oral antibiotic fish food and treat the water too for fin rot.You could also add Kordon Fish protector to the water most petsmarts carry it. I love it for aid in healing fins and sores.You really should only ever put 1 goldfish per 10 gallons. Good Luck!

Thanks for your prompt response. We use a liquid test kit, we have tested the water just now and here are the results, we have also attached the picture of the results for your review:Ammonia 0Nitrite 0Nitrate 0pH 7.4

With regards to our filter system, its a Jewel Rekord Tank that comes with its own filter system which is a 7 step process, we also have a bubblewall airstone. We also use a syphon to clean the gravel. We have informed our friends that the goldfishes will be our christmas gifts so they have purchased their own tanks and for sure they are not a fish bowl, we made sure that they won't be put in a fish bowl.

We have just done a water change yesterday, its probably just the resolution of the picture that has made the water cloudy.

Do you suggest that the little goldfish be given to our friends earlier than friday so they won't be overcrowding our tank?

How do we go about curing the 3 injured goldfishes? Do we transfer them to a quarantine tank? Does the quarantine tank needs to have a filter system as well? As this is the first time we come across fish illnesses.

Thanks for your help, we will be letting our friends collect the goldfish tomorrow as they have already set up their tanks and we will be putting the other 3 injured ones

How do they have room to move That is extremely overcrowded. As Mindemae said, I doubt your tank will every cycle Though sometimes medication can kill off the nitrates yet the tank is not being cycled again.

ok thanks. we will be giving the little goldfishes to our friends tomorrow as their kids are looking forward to it, so that the one's that we had before will have their environment back to normal, thanks for your help. merry christmas and happy new year.

thanks andrea, I'm sure our tank will cycle. As what you said it was a bad move to get the little ones all in the tank as the pet shop advised it will be ok for 2 weeks just before the christmas eve as they are our christmas presents to our 10 family friends. We shall get into giving the little ones away by tomorrow and just putting the other 3 injured ones to the quarantine tank as advised by Mindemae, hopefully they will get better as we only noticed the injury today. thanks again

yep, the old story with pet store staff advice.... they wanna make money instead of looking after our fishies welfare.

According to treatment please follow Mindemaes suggestion, she is really brilliant and experienced.I also would put a filter in the hospital tank, but no activated carbon in it as it would absorb the meds and make them useless.

According to Nitrates, you cannot " get them up" as it is a natural cycle, the nitrifying process, here's a link about it:(Link is not visible to guests. Please register to view.)

Are your friends tanks cycled yet? If not they should use Stability by Seachem to avoid the so called " first tank syndrome"And of course waterconditioner to remove chlorine, chloramine, heavy metals etc from tap water. Hey, they may like to join the forum too? As you see very informative and a bunch of nice helpful and truthful ( we just say what's not right, but we also share our joy ) peeps on here

The API freshwater test kit is one of the best, I use this one too, very accurate

Good Luck with treating your sick fish and keep us updated how things are going.

I agree completely with Hanna, later when you've given the small fish away, would you please look to upgrade your tank? Proper stocking levels would help the system cycle An uncycled system will always be threatening the fish with ammonia spikes as the beneficial bacteria won't multiply to deal with the waste.